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Don’t Fight with Fate

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Dear ladies, gentlemen, and others, my name is Dina Demille.  Welcome to the latest edition of our Tea and Chat.  Today our tea is Harney and Sons, Victorian London Fog and our guests are Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, and Roman, the Black Volhv.

Roman: Please, Roman will do. The Black Volhv is my father.

Hugh:  How is he doing by the way? Last I heard, he picked a fight with Makosh.

Roman: Yeah, it went about as well as you think it did.  You fight with the goddess of Fate, you get what’s coming to you.

Hugh: I’m just amazed he managed to piss her off.

Roman, shrugging: That’s his special power. Nobody can fight Fate. Whatever will be, will be.

Dina: That brings us to our first question.  Roman, could you clear this up for us.  What is your actual full name? Is it Roman Semionovich?  Am I pronouncing that right?

Roman: You are and it’s not. 

Dina: How did we get it wrong?

Roman, sighing: Russian names are made up of three parts: the given name, the middle name, which is a patronymic meaning derived from the father’s given name, and the last name. In a formal setting, we are addressed by the given name and the middle name. So you would be Dina Gerardovna. And Hugh here would be Hugh Asklepisovich.  Shit.  Shouldn’t have said that.

Hugh: Don’t worry about it.  They’ll find out in the next book anyway, if it ever gets written.

Roman: Tell me about it. They’ve been sitting on my book, for like what? Four years now? Five?

Hugh: Three for me. It’s “too dark.”

Roman: Oh, is it now? With all due respect, of the two of us, my book would be da…

Dina: Roman, about the name?

Hugh: Yeah, how the hell did they get Semionovich out of it?

Roman: There was a scene in one of the books where my father, my uncle, and my mother were introduced in a formal way. So they introduced my dad as Grigorii Semionovich. Grigorii, son of Semion. My uncle, who is from a different father, was also there and he is Vasiliy Evgenievich, Vasiliy, son of Evgenii.

Hugh: They just decided your last name is Semionovich because it’s your father’s middle name?

Roman: You know how the readers are.  They jump to conclusions, and then when you try to explain things, they tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about, and they know better than you what your name is.

Dina: So your name is Roman Grigorievich? And that’s the given and middle name, right?

Roman: Yes.

Dina: What’s the family last name?

Roman, sighing: Tihomirov.

Hugh: It means quiet world.

Roman: That’s what we’re aiming for.

Hugh: Well, this got heavy all the sudden.  Good tea, by the way.

Dina: Thank you.  My next question is for you, Preceptor.

Hugh: Just Hugh.  I used to be a Preceptor.  I left that life behind.

Dina: So what are you now?

Hugh: Semi-retired. Just a simple gentleman of leisure…

Roman: Cough-cough-cough.

Dina: Here is a napkin.

Roman: Gentleman of leisure?  A country squire, perhaps?

Hugh: Yes. That’s it.

Roman: Semi-retired from what?

Hugh: Soldering.

Roman: I’m sorry, which one of us blew up a fort two months ago and then stood on the rubble with a troll’s head in his hands?

Hugh: …

Roman: On the rubble, covered in blood, roaring like a maniac.

Hugh: I thought that raven felt funny. What were you doing in my neck of the woods, Roman?

Roman: I was there on unrelated business. You were making so much damn noise, I stopped to see what the commotion was about. Was loping off troll heads part of the retirement package?

Hugh: It’s more of a fringe benefit.  How’s love life going, Roman?

Roman: It’s going fine.

Hugh: Oh? So you managed to get past the first date or do all of the pretty women you meet still run away screaming once they get to know you?

Roman: They’re not afraid me.  They’re scared of the family. You should know all about that.

Hugh: What does that mean?

Roman: What do you think it means?  You think I don’t know? I could feel her from 10,000 feet up in the air. My feathers nearly went white from stress.

Hugh: Are you insinuating something about my wife?

Dina: Preceptor, about the chicken…

Hugh: I asked you a question, priest.  Did you say something about my wife?

Roman:  Yes, I did.  What of it? 

Dina: Preceptor, there is no need for violence.

Hugh: And who are you to judge?  Did you forget who you serve?

Roman: I never forget. You should consider the consequences. The living breathing consequences that result from…

Dina: I’m so sorry. We have to cut our chat short. Our guests had some place to be.  Some separate places, with many, many miles between them.  Join us next time for Tea and Chat.

Makosh by Vladislav Dzalba

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Comments

  9. Fantastic! And mean. And we deserve it if we’re arguing with you about the formulation of Russian names.

  10. Awesome! Thank you so much 😀 this saved my morning, after a long night with a very sick child, and a long day of work ahead of me.
    I wish i could lop of a troll’s head and roar, sometimes it would be a refreshing change when in a meeting full of self-important people who try to push all their tasks away. *Channels Hugh in next meeting with cash managers and product owners, promptly followed by looking for new job*.

    • Yes, that was my favorite detail!!! But now I have so many questions…. Saiman is the grandson of deities, but now we have Hugh as the son of a deity O.O
      I want to know his backstory!!!

    • +1 That was awesome. I visited the Asklepion back in my misspent youth, when I was bopping around Greece for a couple of weeks. It really does have a healing energy about it.

      • Thank you for helping me finally figure out who the spoiler was. I was trying to recall if we had met that person yet.
        This was such a joy to read!

  13. I love this. Thanks for the peek and the laugh.

    I love the similarities and differences between Hugh and Roman. I really can’t picture Hugh in Eyore pj bottoms. I mentally veered off into something come hither and then had to execute a hard stop. Hugh would sleep in something that would let him immediately start killing things should he be abruptly awakened. Silk sleep pants are not that. But, they do have a bit in common, both ex-military for one.

    Thanks for the tidbit. It made a great nightcap.

    • Hugh, manly man that he is, would sleep in the buff and if needed, would battle naked sans hesitation. But if we must appease the censors, put him in Gérard Butler’s spartan bottoms.

  14. I live for these posts. So reminds me of the Kate/Curran vs. Nevada/Connor interview. Loved it so much!!!

  15. I don’t know that I’m pretty enough for him, but I wouldn’t run…???? just saying.

    Hehehe, thank you House Andrews!

  16. Ok, so, at “soldering” I lost it completely.
    I laughed so hard that I dropped the phone :)))))))))

    Thank you ever so much, you rock :)))))))

        • In Russian “Tiho” means quiet and “Mir” means peace or world. So Roman’s last name loosely translates as “of the quiet world”. Which is ironic given that he serves the god of all evil and darkness.

          The explanation is all mine and bears no actual resemblance to what house Andrews intended. Hopefully my translation is accurate.

          • “ Dina: What’s the family last name?

            Roman, sighing: Tihomirov.

            Hugh: It means quiet world.”

            It’s in the text ????

            • I thought it was a reference to how his family is always fighting and he has to disconnect his phone ????

      • I don’t remember which book, but in one of the later KD books Roman tells I believe Andrea(?) that he was in the military. Don’t remember what branch off hand.

  19. I love you. Thank you. That is all.

    (PS: pulse pounding a little AT THE VISUALS of Hugh and Roman in the same room.)

  20. This is the best thing to see first thing on a grey November morning! I laughed so hard! Thank the Gods I wasn’t drinking my own tea yet.

    Thank you, Author Lords! ❤

  23. ❤️ This was great! Really enjoyed their respective voices! I think I might even enjoy Roman a little more than I did before because of this. Gotta love a calm man. I think Dina was wise to wrap it up when she did. Hope this isn’t keeping you up late. Choose what feels right to write next, we’ll love it! What does Hugh’s last name mean?!? ????????????

    • Ummmm… If you break it down the way Roman explains, you get to the name of Hugh’s father. And then you have to look towards a hospital or pharmacy for the symbol of medicine.

      There. It’s as much as I dare to help 😀

    • Hi Sunita,

      As Roman says 🙂 , she is the Goddess of Fate- in the ancient Slavic rites, she is mentioned in the Primary Chronicles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_Chronicle.

      Simplified, she is the Mother Goddess aspect, ruling over the family, fertility, motherhood etc. But she is also the Great Weaver, in whose hands are concentrated the threads of the lives of all living people and even the gods of the Slavic pantheon (see accompanying illustration at the end 🙂 ). It appears Roman’s father had a bone to pick hehe.

      I’m not sure if I should say anything about Asklepisovisch…

        • Take Asklepisovisch, get rid of ovisch (the son of part of the name) and Google the rest. In HS I spent a lot of time reading 19th century Russian novels from War and Peace on – you get used to separating out the parts.

  25. ????????????

    “Roman: Tell me about it. They’ve been sitting on my book, for like what? Four years now? Five?”

    That one totally made me snort ????

  27. First the cow and the boy. Now the troll. I want Hughs book first. He’s been having adventures without us!

    Thank you for this. It was great!

      • That was in Magic Truimphs. It was Hugh’s price for helping Dali. Elara would have to eat a “whole” chicken. I get the feeling she leans vegetarian.

        • Yes but why did Hugh want her to eat the chicken? I never got a vegan vibe from her but I could be wrong. I felt like Hugh wanted her to eat the chicken for her health or something? IDK, it’s just a mystery that bothers me and I’d like to know the context.

          • I got a vegan vibe after the chicken comment and from her not even killing a spider that was in her hair after a romp in the forest at the beginning of her and Hugh’s story. I could be totally-off base and House Andrews has never said she vegan. Nothing I intuit is canon and I do not want to be trying to substitute my impressions for the Andrew’s creative process. My conclusions are my own and not canon.

            However, the whole scene with the chicken so funny. It was how Hugh said it (something like – you will put it in your mouth and swallow) and Kate’s mental response (which was close to – Hold up?? what???) that made it even funnier.

            • You could be right. It’s been a while since my last reread of Iron and Magic. I’m weird in that I have to reread KD and then Iron and Magic before Magic Triumphs. It was a memorable scene though w/ Hugh asking Kate if she minds because they were having a private discussion.

              I’m just patiently waiting for the context. ☺️

            • At the time I read it, my first thought was “oooh! Elara’s pregnant!!” Just my thought at the time of reading it, and that Hugh was concerned she didn’t have enough protein and the idea of eating it made her sick. Again, just my personal thoughts at the time.

  30. Oh my goodness! That was hilarious! I really hope to see another scene with Roman and Hugh in one of those books they mention.
    Thank you so much for this. It really made my morning!

  32. Roman is everything!!

    Gotta love the calm, competence with undercurrent of danger…. Plus Eeyore PJ’s! Love it.

  34. Hahahaheeee ,,,,,that is fantastic……hugh and Roman having tea and an interview that turns violent,,,,all they needed was Kate to moderate….(or cheer them on ). Thank y’all so much for this…looking forward to more

  35. Thank you, what a lovely treat for a grey November day. A book about Roman, excellent news, he is so funny and interesting. And Hugh’s PJ’s on a work morning is very distracting! X

  36. That hint about Hugh’s father! Now I have to go back and find that name. I’ve been betting he’s related to Kate’s family in some way.

  44. Lovely. Thank you so much. And that’s one of the Harney & Sons teas I haven’t tried yet (she says as she looks at the 9 tins of H&Sons tea on her shelf).

  46. I love Elara so much that I named my current D&D character after her; she’s been one of my favorite characters to play, ever. That being said, Roman, Roman, more Roman, Roman all day pretty please. 🙂

    Absolutely love this post! Thank you so much. You guys are freaking amazing.

  48. I love this tea and chat so very much. Roman I my favorite misunderstood Priest of a dark god. Compulsively checking the blog has paid off big this morning. This was the perfect start to my day. I loved the explanation of Russian names. Thank you!!

  49. That was so much fun! And the reference to Hugh’s parentage- so interesting! Cannot wait for the next Hugh book – dark/light/in-between/ whatever!!

  50. He-he-he-he-he! (Giddy with excitement)
    That is SO illuminating.
    Thank you so much for these bright little tidbits to make our day.

  55. Thank you for the education on Russian naming, very interesting.
    I read Iron and Magic a couple of weeks ago and once again you made me like a character I did not like originally.

  56. I loved this!!! So funny and also such witty banter. I would definitely appreciate a book featuring Roman 🙂

  58. Well, that was fantastic. Thank you. Our kitty just passed last night and one of the dogs had a toe taken off cause of a cancer tumor so I’ve had days of sick animals. This lightened a sad day.

  62. ???? love this????
    I thought it was going to be an Innkeeper post at the very beginning though and my heart came out of my chest????

  63. Thanks for the post. Before I log on with work, I always check your blog (when I need a break from work, I check in then, too!). I was looking at the time this was posted. This is one where people could post where they were from. It’d be interesting to see the night owls versus those who start their day with the blog. I imagine people posting from east to west across the globe.

  66. Americans often have problems with the naming conventions of other countries. Patronymics, Russian style or Norse style, Hispanics having last names from both parents, etc. It makes genealogy interesting.

  67. Thank you so much! It was pure joy to read this “Tea and Chat.” I very much appreciate these snippets and the interaction between your characters.

  68. Haha — this is brilliant. More tea talks, please!!

    And Makosh reminds me quite a bit of Frigga.

  69. Thank You! Started this week working in office 100% of time. This was a great start of the day. Did the survey of books in the Blog had a Roman book? It would be greet to get a story about him. Also, great clue about Hugh! It explains a lot.

  73. That was hilarious and educational about the last names! Thanks for another fun tea and chat!

    But… but… what about the chicken?!?

  77. So clever, a taste of three favorite characters. I recently discovered we have Russian ancestry, so info on my heritage. I also discovered an unknown child from a family member. So according to my family I have opened Pandora’s box. Lol

  79. I know this is not a book or even a snippet, but Dina Demille in Kate Danial’s World? It is funny and it provides names; another story to keep on file.

  81. Thank you. Definitely the best tea I have ever been to. Also possibly, the most real people, certainly the most entertaining. A big , “Aha”, on Hugh’s name. I’m looking forward to all the books, but not sure if I’m ready for anything really “dark”. Any chance of lightening it a bit??? I always admire the art work, but this one is superb.

  82. I so enjoyed the Tea and Chat. I hope Dina feels this episode was a success and will host many more. Thank you

  89. I love character chats, and this one was no exception. I hope the tease about Roman’s book means that is still possibly on the table. Or even a novella. He’s such a great character.

    Aha, the Hugh spoiler name thing makes a lot of sense. And I love that his next book will be exploring some heretofore unknown aspects of his back ground, though I am VERY curious about Elara and her people as well.

  92. Squuuueeeeee!!! Yes! Best ever interview!
    Thank you so much. You guys really know how to delight your audience. LOVE it!

  93. I love this! That said, I’m pretty sure everyone now just wants a short story to explain the background lol. Thanks for the info on Roman’s name! I never can quite remember how Russian naming conventions work.

  96. I just recently finished a re-listen of the KD series plus Hugh’s book and Julie #1, so I heard Roman’s voice clearly in my head as voiced by Renee Raudman. 🙂 It was awesome!!

  101. Did those philosophical space chickens make it to Hugh’s place?

    I would love to have seen THAT discussion!

    (Thx for the funny this November morning. November always needs more funny)

  102. I may actually die from not reading these books, that are not even written yet. You guys are seriously the best.

  103. Awesome. The text you write are hilarious. Thank you. I look forward to the next interaction.

    Be safe. Sending peace light and love
    ????K

  104. Dina! Have been missing her ???? Maybe this is my cue to go reread Innkeeper this weekend..

    Always fun seeing character chats! Thank you for the spoilers!!

  105. Thank you for this post! I can’t stop laughing. Reminds me of the Kate/Curran/Nevada/Connor tea Dina hosted. You would think Dina would learn by now that it’s not a good idea to get strong minded people together. Oh well, it makes for great laughs at the end.

    So, we get a lot of early little Christmas presents in the post. I didn’t want to say Easter eggs since we are getting into the Christmas season. For us in the U.S., it’s almost Thanksgiving. So, I am very, very grateful to read about Hugh and Roman. 🙂

    Semi-retired?! Hugh?! Uh, that will be the day. Who is the one that told Julie he would love to come to Atlanta to help her? Who is the one who bellowed at his son? Who is the one who could bellow just as loud as Erra?

    Roman’s feathers almost turned white…oh no. At least they stayed black. Roman and Eeyore pjs… he-he-he. 😀

    Thank you for the Russian naming lesson. I knew about it thanks to an older brother (who is no longer living) studying Russian a long time ago, but I forgot about it. The eye opener of Hugh’s last name. Hmmm…

  106. I loved it! So much fun!! Thanks for this, as it’s been a horrid week. Hugh and Roman!!!! Drinking tea with Dina! You guys have the best imaginations.

  110. You didn’t know that you needed this. Commenter, you did not know that you needed this read this until now. And now you’re going to read this again because of how awesome it is.
    I have no shame.

  111. Curious why my previous comment was removed. ????
    I would assume that if House Andrews didn’t want BDH to reach that conclusion they wouldn’t have included the spoiler in the post.

  116. I love that banter. I wouldn’t call it sibling banter, but I could consider it in the realm of first cousin banter…you know those cousins that only see each other twice a year and one time is usually a formal event…like a world ending battle.

  118. Thank you for the laugh. That put the cap on an already great week.

    Some weeks absolutely suck. This week has been really good. That happens less frequently, so I’ve learned to appreciate it. This post just moved it from “awesome” to “damned awesome”.

  121. Yep, that’s about what I would expect. Except they stayed semi-civil for much longer than I would have given them, LOL.

  123. I am so ready for Hugh’s second book; this was so hilarious, I don’t care how dark it is rumored to be. I love him as the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, love it!

  124. (Googling Asklep)

    I could do dark now. I could read the story by Joe Strazynski I’ve been saving for when I can do dark again… So I could read Roman’s story or Hugh’s …

  127. Aaaand that was FABULOUS! Can’t thank you enough for the snort and giggle from my favorite characters; I needed it. It’s been a rough few weeks. Stay safe!

  128. Thank you for this brief glimpse of Hugh and Roman again! I’m ready for Hugh’s second book when y’all are ready to write it!!

    • It was my vote! But Ilona already said it’s not next so will wait and take whatever they want to write next.

  130. Still laughing. Thanks for the story, the smiles and the belly laughs. Can’t wait for the next book, whoever’s it may be. Still rooting for–cough cough- Arabella’s story.

  136. Hilarious! Especially loved the part that the readers tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about!

  142. Loved it – even if I didn’t have a cup of tea with me!

    I don’t know how to say this without punning – but are we going to find out if Hugh has an ancestral staff in his next book? Does that part of the US have a thing for snakes?

    Thank you, as always for a great diversion!

  146. Squeeeee I love these little glimpses of our characters 😀 Especially Roman, I wonder would his match be scarier that the white witch? She or he certainly would have to be tough.

  148. Hee hee hee … I love Dina moderating discussions. I still go back and re-read the Curran/Kate -vs- Nevada/Rogan debate for giggles.

    Beautiful artwork.

  152. So I have a question about Russian names. Roman said that in a formal setting you use the given name and the middle name. When would you use the given name and family name in an introduction?

    • Mostly your mother would use it after discovering a small animal you were hiding in your room after bringing it home. For example.

      “Full first name” “full middle name” “last name” get over here right now!!!

      No actual events resembled this in my life. But the full name was used often.

  154. Oh this is awesome! Even better than a snippet. Love the crossovers. Hope this becomes a regular or semi regular thing.

  156. Maybe Hugh and Roman should get Twitter accounts. Less chance for blood and mayhem with Dina caught in the middle and Sean/Turan Adin having to intercede. Loved this!! Many, many thanks!

  158. Thank for taking time out of your day to amuse us! That was awesome! Just finished MY tea so I didn’t spit it all over my keyboard. 🙂

  160. And now I’m wondering if Roland was aware of Hugh’s heritage, or if he just grabbed a powerful kid and didn’t bother to question where the power came from.
    Want more Hugh! Need to see the cow. And the Chicken. And the Troll.
    Thank you House Andrews for brightening the week. Now I Get to cope with the nest hole that a woodpecker has just drilled into my house. Not just pecking, this is a major excavation.

  162. Roman and Hugh sharing the same book? No. There simply isn’t enough candle wattage in the entire known universe.

  164. I feel like this is a clear and blatant attempt to change the results of the poll! A clear, egregious and entirely successful attempt! More Preceptor!

  167. You know how Gordon did all those Curran POVs? I really think we all could benefit from a bunch of Dina Moderated vignettes between unlikely characters. Like a lot of them, because these are so fun. Erra talking to Arabella about the joy of destruction would be delightful.

  173. You’re planning a Roman book? In that case, I must insist we have the Roman book first! 😀

    (P.S. This is a joke, not an actual demand)

  174. Even the typos are funny. I can just imagine Hugh with a soldering gun making this huge metal contraption, just to knock it down again in a glorious charge atop his horse… Or was it not a typo and there is some secret meaning I haven’t discovered?

  175. Thank you. ????

    Please publish Hugh’s book. Doesn’t matter if it’s dark. I’ve just reread his first and would love to know how it continues.

  179. HUGH HUGH HUGH HUGH I want more HUGH

    Oh, and I dearly adore these chats. Sorry – I got so excited about Hugh, I hit send too fast. Thank you for these.

  184. Thank you for this, much needed this Friday (here in New Zealand)

    Thoroughly enjoyed, love both Hugh and Roman, hope they have tea again.
    this was great as just doing a re read of Kate Daniels and about to read Iron and Magic.

  185. Love seeing Roman again! Out of idle curiosity, what diminutives would have been used for Roman? I know a few (Evgenia/Zhenya, Yuri/Yurochka, Viktor/Vitya/Vitenka, Georgia/Gosha) but I don’t quite understand how they’re formed or chosen.

    Then again, Roman might make noise about cursing someone for using a cute nickname for him…

  186. I wanted to vote for everyone in the poll. I don’t care who gets next book, I just want it Now! Pretty please. Plus the suspense of who is getting the next book is getting to me.

  188. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! No content here just a lot of excitement that Roman and Hugh made an appearance! Definitely my two favorite characters at the moment! (cough-Roman needs his book already-cough)

  189. I literally burst out laughing. Several times. Thank you! ????????????????????????

    It might be time to reread Iron and Magic.

  190. OMG. This week has sucked and this had me sitting at my desk with an idiotic grin on my face, laughing out loud. I’m literally having to restrain myself from jumping up and down clapping and giggling like an insane woman. THANK YOU!

  193. Thank you! I love you so much!!!
    Don’t ever stop writing please. The world is a better place with you in it!

  194. Y’all I can’t even…I’m at my desk laughing like a loon. My co-workers are checking on me! I love this!

  197. Now I want a buddy-cop short story with Hugh and Roman forced to cooperate lol.

    Also, I know it was a typo and I don’t mean to point it out… but Hugh says he’s semi-retired from soldering (which means he’s not commenting on his state of participation in the unrelated-but-similarly-spelled occupation of soldiering) and my brain spun straight into Hugh getting a whole lot of side-eye and snarky comments from the peanut gallery (Elara and Kate mostly, with a handful of others thrown in.) and I laughed so hard I had to share the image.

      • Oh okay! It seems like it flew right over Roman‘s head, and he doesn’t seem the type to ignore that kind of opening. So that’s why I was guessing typo.

        Regardless, it made me laugh, so mission accomplished!

  202. Omg!!! Roman and Hugh!! ????Loving this!! Thank you!!!!
    Today has become a million times better!!????????????

  204. Also,

    “The living breathing consequences that result from…”

    I wonder if we’ll get to see Junior D’Ambray in the next book. With such a pedigree, that kid will give Conlan a run for his money.

  206. That was so much fun. Thank you. It made me laugh as I am laying in bed with the heating pad under my cranky spamming lower back and an ice pack on my left eyebrow where it’s swelling where my glasses got pushed into it. I tripped up a curb and fell going to the pharmacy for my COVID booster.

  208. “Just a simple gentleman of leisure…”

    I almost choked on my coffee! Thank you – this was great ????

  211. Well, that partly explains Hugh…Great “oops”! Not a demigod really, but second-gen like Saiman…demi-demigod…

    And I too am dying to see Roman with somebody. I am sure Evgenia has been bugging him for grandchildren for years.

  212. Good to laugh out loud. But are we now getting 3 more books…..I don’t mind write and I will enjoy.
    Y
    Thanks for the fun.

  215. Mwahahahaa! Is it too much to respectfully request monthly tea parties? Quarterly is good too 😀

    PS: Good thing Hugh did not taunt him with his choice in pajamawear!

    • So fun! Roman: tell me about it!
      You know it’s gonna be good. I still check back to the Kate/Curran vs Nevada/Rogan interview when I need a laugh – it’s not only snark, it’s witty, bright snark that just delights.
      And the soldering! Must say, I had some trouble in Australia, when I pronounced it the Canadian way (silent ‘l’) and had the Ozzies rolling in the aisles. ‘Bout the same reaction when I asked them what team they rooted for.

  219. I loved this so much. Thank you!

    Off to re-read. . . Until Fated Blades comes out.

    It will tide me over.

    Trying to decide which Roman book I like the best. Roman was pretty great in Andrea’s book. But Roman as a wedding planner. . .

    Thank you and I hope you have a great weekend.

  227. oh, now I need all the next books. Failing this, since it isn’t in my hands in any way (nor should it be), I will be rereading all the previous books.
    Oh, forgot. I’m already doing that…
    heh

  229. Thank you for this, loved it. Though I do wonder why after reading this, I went to the store and had to get funyuns. I guess Innkeeper is my next reread. Thanks again

  232. Awesome as always! Although I do wonder what Caldenia thinks about these teas. Is she sitting on a balcony watching the byplay? She does tend to be protective of Dina…for purely Caldenian reasons of course. ????

  233. Ha! If they were at the Inn for this chat I’m sure they both got encased and moved to opposite ends of the property. lol

    Ah, I so want a home like Gertrude Hunt. 🙂

    Thanks for the pick-me-up. Much needed today!

  234. Yay!! Roman and Hugh tea party!! Dina is a brave woman to moderate that event!! Thank you for such a fun and funny post!!

    (It’s typical November weather here in northern Illinois – cold, windy and gray….)
    (A “three dog night” – if you don’t have dogs – three cats, three blankets or any combination of the above will work!)

  242. I would love a Roman book. He is so unique and funny. Eeyore pajama pants, a mysterious magic staff that bites, a booby trapped front yard, interesting pets, he steals the scene every time he appears.

    • Oh yes, with his humor, all those unique features and the seeds already sown for him through KD world, Roman seems to have gigantic potential, from a readers point of view.
      Similar to Harry Dresden’s, I would say – I binge read all seventeen Dresdens last month, so he is fresh on my mind right now.

  245. I can see this in my mind and I can’t help but laugh. Thank you for a good giggle at the end of what has been a pretty yucky day.

  253. I have a big exam in the morning. This was an awesome distraction before I force myself to go to bed. These are awesome, they remind me of the twitter conversations with Curran and Kate. I bet Hugh and Kate’s sibling banter via twitter would be amusing.

  258. That’s a beautiful art of Makosh and that convo was funny as hell. Considering how quick he managed to piss Hugh off, I’d say Roman is his father’s son.
    Thank you!

  261. That was AWESOME!!!! I had no idea that the thing I needed was Roman and Hugh sitting down and chatting together!!! Thanks for sharing with us! <3

  264. Oh my God. Please release Hugh’s book. I don’t care if it’s too dark or not…I love dark. Please…
    I love these secondary characters precisely because they are ambiguous in nature.

  265. So, NOT ONLY DO I GET TO SEE HUGH, BUT ROMAN AS WELL???!!!!

    DARN, that was the best thing that ever happened during this week!!!

    Thank you for an amazing treat!! ????????????????

  268. Thank you so, so much! Made me roll with laughter. 3 of my favorite characters in one place, enjoying one of my favorite teas — and being themselves. So enlightening and entertaining, I almost spit / sputtered my H & S Paris tea all over the rug. So I quickly set my cup down, read and roared with laughter.
    Have a lovely week and enjoy the crisp, clear weather.

  271. That was awesome. Don’t stress on the book timelines. The books will happen when it is right for you.

    I can’t do dark right now either, as a reader. Let alone as a writer.

    I do think the dig about women and Roman was hilarious though

  272. I feel like that image of Makosh could easily be a portrait of Ilona – just substitute the snowy landscape with the magically-devastated Atlanta skyline. 🙂

    Thank you for all the little yummy easter eggs in this post. You guys are the best!

  274. “Don’t worry about it. They’ll find out in the next book anyway, if it ever gets written.”

    LMAO you tease us so badly

  275. That’s AWESOME! Thank you so much for feeding the need… As in we ALL needed that snippet.

  278. Harney and Sons – is that the one that has the Paris tea. I had Paris tea at a little Tea Room and really liked it.

  286. Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that tidbit! I love the world of Kate Daniels and can’t wait to read whatever you next put out!

  288. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️!!
    Loved this, thank you!

    At the risk of sounding like every body else on here, I don’t mind which book you decide to write! I am here for the characters’ banter! 😉

  291. You guys are killing me. Oh man. I welcome the darkness. The darker the better. I can’t wait. I’m at the door thinking “Open, open, open”

  295. Roman is such a character! I just finished listening to Gunmetal Magic and he as hilarious in that one.

    Roman and company. I wonder how his sisters are with him. They makes make for a fun and exciting family get-togethers.

    Thanks for the Tea and Chat. It’s been a tough week.

  296. Oh my gosh. This is why I think you two are SO good. This was hilarious and I can hear both guys in my mind sniping at each other and poor Dina trying to keep peace. I love it!!

  298. Don’t fight with Fate- loved, loved, loved it!!!!!! ❤ made my day. Thank you for all you do.

  299. Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post. I ROFLOL until I cried. Semantics. And antics.

    Have a wonderful thanksgiving at House Andrews. Mother took a hammer and chisel to her bathroom sink because it stopped draining. so I had to go Friday and assess the damage. The thrills of dementia. ????

  300. Still have to laugh every time I read this, and in between went off to do some re-reading for Roman and Hugh. With a cup of tea of course.
    Love the combination of spoilers and reprimands all wrapped up in a discussion of Russian names.

    And now I can count down the hours to the arrival of fated blades – woohoo.

  302. Wheeee! Love these characters! Please write Hugh’s book! I can’t wait to find out more of his story!

  303. This is just cruel…..please go back to.. “about the chicken” and explain. ????????????
    I’ve listened to Magic Triumphs and Iron and Magic too many times trying to figure out what I missed. Take pity. Please.

  306. I bought some of the Harney and Sons Victorian Fog teabags and they are wonderful.
    The Tea and Chat was just absolutely hysterical. I loved it and even printed it out so I could reread it at my leisure. Is there going to be a Roman book anytime in the future?

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